What Happens When the Boss Has Cancer?

David B. Fischer advanced to chief executive of Greif Inc. last November, a decade after he contracted a form of melanoma that usually kills within five years.

Mr. Fischer disclosed he was a recent cancer survivor with a poor prognosis before the big industrial-packaging maker offered him a divisional presidency in 2004. The disclosure "showed his forthrightness and honesty," and helped him get picked, said Chairman...